Where to Place Defibrillator Pads — A Simple Guide
Defibrillation pads are placed on the patient’s bare chest. All defibrillators sold by your Defibshop have clear instructions on where to place the defibrillation pads. Simply, they go on the front (anterior) of the chest — one above the right nipple, and the other on the left side of the chest below the left breast area.
The only exception is for paediatrics, where one pad is placed on the back chest wall (posterior) and the other on the front (anterior) left chest wall. The general principle of defibrillation is to deliver a shock through the heart from one side to the other, resulting in the heart being shocked back into a regular rhythm.
Special Circumstances — What to Know
| Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Large breasts | Place the left pad under the breast tissue where possible. Elevate the breast tissue with one hand while placing the pad with the other. |
| Jewellery | Remove jewellery such as nipple piercings and necklaces. Pads must not come into contact with any metal. |
| Tattoos | No problem — pads can be placed directly over tattoos without affecting shock delivery. |
| Pacemakers | No problem — all AEDs will defibrillate a patient with or without a pacemaker fitted. |
| Scars | Scar tissue is not a concern. Pads can be placed over scar tissue and shocks will be delivered successfully. |
If you have any questions, call your Defibshop team on 1300 729 575 or visit our AED servicing page.
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Where to Place Defib Pads